Entertainment in Africa
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A
Big Willy's
Owned by a South African and perennially popular with the expat crowd, Big Willy's is the it spot for DJ-ed dance beats and rugby on the tube.
reviewed
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Bazar Labrin
On Wednesday evening don't miss Bazar Labrin, which injects a bit of vitality and excitement into the neighbourhood. Numerous food and craft stalls take position along the seafront, with impromptu live bands or sound systems. It's popular with local families and flirting youngsters. For tourists, it's a great opportunity to catch local vibes.
reviewed
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B
Banana Bar
In the Caltex parking lot near Don Camillo, this is one of the best spots to grab a drink and catch up with friends.
reviewed
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C
Bali Copy
Set within what looks like an office building, this lively joint is precisely what its name suggests: a Bali copy. There's a chilled-out tropical vibe matched by thematic decor, and the ambient beats rev up on weekends to attract the local surfing crowd.
reviewed
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D
90° Bar
The unapologetic decor (think smoke and mirrors, literally) could not be mistaken for anything but a nightclub. It's popular with the same crowd that hangs out at Shotz.
reviewed
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E
1974
The only notable drinking option in the area is 1974, a popular local haunt in Trou aux Biches serving pub grub and Italian ice cream. There's live music on Friday and Saturday, and great sunset cocktails any day of the week.
reviewed
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F
La Villa Club
Another crowd-puller in L'Hermitage. Latin and dance music dominate the play list.
reviewed
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G
Long Board Café
Spiffing setting, in a Creole house with a terrace opening onto the seafront – a great place for quaffing a sunset beverage. Offers live entertainment and karaoke on selected evenings.
reviewed
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La Dee Da's
Another traditional stalwart on the Windhoek clubbing scene, here you can dance to Angolan kizomba (fast-paced Portuguese-African music), hip hop, rave, traditional African, rock and commercial pop accompanied by special effects.
reviewed
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H
Warehouse Theatre
A delightfully integrated club staging live African and European music and theatre productions.
reviewed
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I
Café Tanger
If the Symphonie is too flashy for you, head for this café where the predominantly male clientele sip coffee, suck their teeth and watch over the world.
reviewed
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J
Restaurant-Café Seles
Restaurant-Café Seles is a cozy little spot with cushion benches, perfect for a drink or food.
reviewed
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K
Quai des Arts & VIP Nightclub
This is where the main action happens during the jazz festival. The rest of the year the place stays fairly calm, though the nightclub attracts a stylish crowd.
reviewed
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L
Vic Baboo's Café
Vic Baboo's Café is where foreign travellers go for its extensive cocktail menu.
reviewed
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M
Paddy's
No longer the den of iniquity it once was, Paddy's is still Freetown's most famous nightspot and the only place were everyone, no matter what their stripe, can really let their hair down at the bar or on the dance floor. The food is pretty good too. Paddy's never closes.
reviewed
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N
On the Rocks
One of the definitive stops on the Kampala nightshift, this place has a covered bar and a huge outdoor area, absolutely heaving with people from about 21:00. The complex includes a couple of small dance floors and drinks are a fair deal, given it is part of the Speke Hotel. Prostitutes hang out here in numbers and pickpocketing is not unheard of on a busy night.
reviewed
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New Afrika Shrine
The spiritual home of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti's original Shrine was burned down, but this replacement is run by his son Femi, who plays on Fridays and Sundays when he's in town (cover charge payable). It's a huge shed, but the music blows the roof off.
reviewed
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O
Musicians Club 1989
Kampala musicians get together every Monday at the National Theatre for informal jam sessions and live performances. This is a must if you are in the city, as the place fills up with Ugandans letting off steam after a Monday back at work and the drinks flow. On the second and last Monday of the month, the whole event shifts outside the theatre and becomes a mini-festival, complete with beer tents and a serious sound system. A great night out.
reviewed
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Le Bombolong Nightclub
Another busy club downtown - its dance floor seems to follow the same Ziguinchor rules as Le Rubis - 'grown-ups' sway to salsa on Fridays, while Saturday is younger and hipper, with heavier bass and faster rhythms.
reviewed
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P
Domino
Another popular bar-nightclub, this infamous pick-up joint plays rock and jazz from 22:30 on Friday and Saturday.
reviewed
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Q
Bar-Restaurant Les Bambou
Definitely the most enjoyable of the outdoor bars in central Bobo, Les Bambou is a terrific outdoor venue with a lovely garden area and traditional live music (especially traditional djembé music) from around 20:00 from Wednesday to Saturday.
reviewed
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R
Duncan's Bar
Nothing more than a few plastic tables out on the street, Duncan's is nevertheless a popular drinking spot with locals.
reviewed
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S
Bywel Bar
Live music Thursday and Saturday nights transforms this cool hang-out at the southern end of Cantonments Rd into a fun party.
reviewed
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T
Ster Kinekor - Musgrave Centre
Cinema multiplex with all the big features.
reviewed
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U
Amadoda
Attempting to pull off a township braai (barbecue) and shebeen atmosphere à la Mzoli’s, but not quite matching the real thing, is this slickly decorated venue tucked away down a side road beside the railway tracks. The juke box is stacked with African, jazz and house music tracks and the butchery will provide whatever kind of meat you’d like to have grilled with your beer or rum and coke. Worth checking out late on a weekend evening.
reviewed